Third-party logistics specialist Lloyd Fraser Group has invested in a massive fleet upgrade to service its contract with retailer Focus DIY. Fifty-six Scania tractors and 17 Don-Bur trailers - supplied by TIP - will join operations at its Tamworth, Staffs, site. Scania won an evaluation process, which considered lease costs, fuel consumption, location of service agents and aftersales service.
The tractor units are all G-series, 6x2, three-axle, twin-steer models set up for close coupling.
They are powered by 420hp, 12-litre engines. Opticruise electronically-controlled automatic transmission with hill mode turned off was selected by drivers because of its ease of use.
Adrian Rea, Lloyd Fraser general manager for the Focus DIY contract, says: "Replacing the current vehicle fleet with Scania proved a simple choice as, apart from the history of using Scania on the Focus DIY contract, they offered the best solution for general distribution work in terms of price, specification and service support."
The new double-deck trailers were selected to meet Lloyd Fraser's environmental objectives by improving fuel economy and so reducing its carbon footprint. The mix of load types on the Focus contract - both roll cages and pallets - enables careful load planning and means that there has been no impact on vehicle load utilisation, despite the sloping roof.
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